Quick facts TL;DR · 4 bullets
✓ A minor can get a REAL ID — as a driver's license (if driving age) or a California ID card (any age, non-driver).
✓ A parent or legal guardian must sign, and the child must be present for the photo and signature.
✓ Bring proof of the relationship/guardianship plus the child's identity, SSN, and two residency documents.
✓ Minors only need a REAL ID if they'll fly domestically or enter federal facilities without another acceptable ID.
As a license Driving age (16+)
As an ID card Any age
Signature Parent / legal guardian
Child present? Yes — photo + signature
Children and teens can get a California REAL ID — on a driver’s license if they’re driving age, or on a California ID card at any age. The process mirrors an adult’s, with two additions: a parent or legal guardian signs, and you bring proof of the relationship.
Before you go, though: many families don’t need one. TSA doesn’t require ID for under-18s traveling with an adult, so a minor only needs a REAL ID if they’ll fly alone or enter a federal facility without another acceptable ID.
When a minor needs one
Get a minor a REAL ID if they will, without a passport or other federal ID:
- Fly domestically unaccompanied (or you want them to carry their own federal ID)
- Enter a federal building or facility that checks ID
Otherwise a standard California ID card or the family’s passports usually suffice. For the documents every applicant needs, see the REAL ID checklist.
Documents you'll need
1
What to bring for a minor's REAL ID
- The child's identity: certified birth certificate or US passport
- The child's Social Security number (no SSN document needed — DMV verifies it)
- Two proofs of California residency (the parent's count if the child lives there)
- Proof of the parent/guardian relationship (birth certificate, adoption order, or guardianship paperwork)
- Parent or guardian present to sign
Heads up.Under 18 can get a REAL ID on a California ID card without driving; teens of driving age get it on the license.
Frequently asked questions
Does my child need a REAL ID?
Only to fly domestically or enter a federal facility without another acceptable ID (like a passport). TSA does not require ID for children under 18 traveling with an adult — so many families skip it.
Can a child get a REAL ID if they don't drive?
Yes — on a California ID card, available at any age. Same document rules and a parent/guardian signature.
What proof of guardianship is needed?
A birth certificate showing the parental relationship, an adoption order, or court guardianship paperwork. Just having the child present isn't enough.
Do both parents need to be there?
No — one parent or legal guardian can sign. The child must be present for the photo and signature.
Can my teen get a REAL ID with their first license?
Yes — REAL ID can be issued with a first license at a DMV office. See the first-license guide for the rest of the process.
Does the child need their own Social Security card?
No card needed — just provide the child's Social Security number on the application; the DMV verifies it electronically. See the full document checklist.
Related guides
Other guides readers of this page also use.
California REAL ID — full guide Cost, process, what to expect REAL ID document checklist All four categories California ID card Non-driver photo ID Get your first license Teen and new-driver process
About this guide
Published by
DMVCA· an independent California DMV information publisher
Fact-checking
Fact-checked against primary sources — the California Vehicle Code, DMV publications, and government sources — and cited on the page.
Update cadence
Reviewed quarterly and after any federal or state policy change.
Sources. California DMV — REAL ID · TSA — Identification (children) · US DHS — REAL ID
Last verified June 28, 2026 · reviewed quarterly and after any policy change.